Trout frustrated about money, position

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout figures if he keeps producing like he did during his historic rookie season, he’ll be in line for a handsome raise soon enough.

The Angels renewed the contract of the AL Rookie of the Year for $510,000 on Saturday, just $20,000 above the major league minimum, prompting an angry response from Trout’s agent.

While Craig Landis said the renewal “falls well short of a ‘fair’ contract,” Trout took the high road before a morning workout at the Angels’ spring training complex on Sunday, repeatedly insisting that “I’m just happy to be in the lineup.”

“I mean, my time will come,” Trout said before a team meeting. “I just have to keep putting out numbers and concentrating on one thing, and that’s getting to the postseason.”

Trout had a base salary of $482,500 last year, when he hit .326 with 30 homers and 83 RBIs, and led the majors with 129 runs and 49 steals. Trout was the run-away choice as the AL’s top rookie, earning a $10,000 bonus, and finished second to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in MVP voting.

Alderson: Santana ‘less & less likely’ for opener

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson says Johan Santana is becoming “less and less likely” to be ready for the team’s opener against San Diego on April 1.

Santana was scheduled to throw batting practice Tuesday, but pitching coach Dan Warthen said Saturday that the session had been canceled. Santana remains on a long-toss program and likely will throw from 150 feet Sunday.

“We haven’t ruled out opening day, although given when he might get on the mound, it becomes less and less likely,” Alderson said. “But we haven’t given up on that notion yet and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Tags: sports, baseball, mlb